Nigeria:NIG Commends GTBank on Innovative Internet Banking

The Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) has recognised Guaranty Trust Bank (GTBank) as one of the foremost Nigerian banks with a very innovative internet banking platform and top-of-the-range electronic solutions, products and services which avail customers ease and convenience of best global banking standards.

The recognition was given to the bank’s top management at its head office in Lagos on Monday, during a courtesy call by the national executive of the Nigeria Internet Group (NIG) led by its president, Bayo Banjo.

“This is to encourage and congratulate GTBank for the iconic use of the internet to promote banking services which in turn leads to better economic value.”

He said the NIG as an advocacy body aims at promoting the use of the internet and policy issues while in the process, it has within the last three years identified and monitored the numerous feet of the bank in line with the aims and objectives of the NIG.

Banjo particularly praised GTBank’s plethora of services including; GT Self Service Contact Centre, the trail-blazing Face Book banking, GT Mobile money, the GTB Electronic Notification Service among others which he said, has helped to provide greater banking inclusion and access to the unbanked even in the rural areas.

He noted that this strategic measure of the bank has also been very beneficial to the growth of the Nigeria economy in the process.

Banjo assured the bank of NIGs commitment to continue to promote policies that will accelerate internet penetrations in the country. He said NIG was already canvassing for subsidy of internet price for at list four years, to help address the high cost of internet, regional licensing of spectrums and cyber security among others.

The Group Head, Communication and External Affairs of GTBank, Mrs. Lola Odedina, thanked the NIG for the honour and recognition as she expressed with gratitude the banks appreciation while promising that GTB will continue to deploy top-of-the range cutting edge technology, digital services and online solutions, with adherance to the best global practices.

According to Odedina, "We will keep trying. The bank will explore all possible opportunities to achieve her goals and build synergies with organisation of mutual interests like NIG."

As part of the challenges encountered by bank’s use of the internet, she advocated for a privacy policy structure that would suit the needs of the banks, while agreeing with the call by the NIG for lower internet prices for more access to the internet.

She said, "Access to data availability is still very low which means that if we get data into the hands of everybody, we will connect more people to the banking platform and everything will be easier."

The Publicity Secretary of NIG, Dr. BayeroAgabi added that the recognition of the bank was to encourage and identify with GTBank in its iconic use of the internet to engage and promote economic activities, which has since come to the notice of NIG for which the body is also seeking the bank’s support for its annual Cyber Security Forum.

The Manager, Digital Marketing, GTBank, Mr. Pascal Or, said the bank had become a leader in the online banking solutions as GTBank considers the enormous opportunities available on the internet to customers who ultimately are at the centre of the bank’s services.

“It is the responsibility of the bank to take it services to the platforms where people can easily communicate and access solutions that make it easier for them to undertake their banking transactions on the go, wherever they are, without visiting the conventional banking hall,” he said.